Glossary · Buying guide

3D printing

Refurbished

A used or returned device that is checked, repaired if necessary and sold again. What exactly is behind it is defined by each seller.

Explained in more detail

Refurbished is not a quality seal with fixed test requirements: each seller decides for itself what it checks, replaces and promises. Legally, a refurbished device is used goods. The Regional Court of Munich I ruled in 2018 (case no. 33 O 12885/17) that the word "refurbished" alone is not enough, and a retailer must state clearly that the item is used. As with other used goods, the seller may shorten the statutory warranty to one year if it says so before the purchase and agrees this separately. Among makers of maker devices, the terms differ widely: Formlabs gives refurbished SLA printers the same one-year warranty as new devices, xTool in its EU shop gives 24 months on the main parts according to the product page, and Atomstack gives 3 months.

Where does the term come from?

"To refurbish" means to restore or renovate.

In practice

• Compare the warranty and the condition description, not just the price. According to the product page, slight signs of use are not grounds for a complaint at xTool, and cosmetic defects are excluded from the warranty at eufyMake.
• With Atomstack and xTool, a warranty claim is only settled by exchange for another refurbished device.
• If you buy online as a consumer from a commercial seller, you generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal, including on refurbished goods.
• Check the device straight after unpacking with a test print or test job.

Not to be confused

Refurbished does not mean new: the device was in use or was returned. A used device from a private seller, by contrast, is usually not tested and often sold without a statutory warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Does a refurbished device have a statutory warranty?

Yes, when buying from a retailer or manufacturer. It can be shortened to one year for used goods. In addition there is the manufacturer's warranty, which the provider sets itself.

Is refurbished worth it for a 3D printer?

That depends on the price gap, warranty and condition. Compare the price with the current new price and read the provider's refurbished terms carefully.